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Thanks to my ongoing recovery following a tonsillectomy, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in bed and on pain medication. At the beginning, it was fun…I even ended up with some new kitchen appliances that I didn’t need…but somehow found…and ordered in the middle of the night. (insert eye-roll and sigh) Whatever.

Needless to say, even seasons of rest can get really tiring (that’ll preach), and basically, I’ve run out of TV shows to catch-up on and movies that I’ve been wanting to watch. I will be very thankful when my body has recovered as much as my mind wishes it was!

Thanks to this forced down time, I’ve been able to spend time thinking. Que the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack: “Lefou, I’m afraid I’ve been thinking.” “A dangerous pass-time.” “I know!”

Most of us, myself included, love our lives. We are thankful for the people we share our days and space with, we’re thankful for the work that we can accomplish, and in general, are satisfied. However, if we were given permission to admit it, how many would express regret for goals not achieved? We might feel grief for ideas not implemented or relationship-building moments that we allowed to slip away.

We might think back to when we were younger and all we accomplished in our youth (at school, college, our first job, before kids, before life blew up…), and the expectations of all we would achieve as we ventured through life. We might find ourselves asking, “Did I peak too young? Did I squander my best years? Did I use up or miss out on all my opportunities before I was mature enough to know what was going on?”

If you’ve never felt this way, I believe you are unique! But, I have a feeling that most of us have experienced these thoughts and emotions at least once in our lives (probably more).

But, here is where the “Wine Club” comes in! Think back to Jesus’ first miracle. The moment in John 2:1-11 when, despite His indication that it was not time for Him to reveal Himself as the Son of God, He transformed water into wine at a wedding feast. The story goes on to say that the wine He created was better than the wine that had been served before and the party’s resident sommelier declared that the family had “saved the best till now.”

The point is, God is not beyond saving the best till last. It’s actually the reverse!! It was His Son’s first miraculous display! He will take the completely ordinary, common and basic resource (in this case water) and transform it into something that will shock even the most seasoned of critics.

However, later in His ministry, He made it clear that new wine will not be poured into old wineskin.

“People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst. The wine will run out, and the wineskins will be destroyed. No, people pour new wine into new wineskins. Then both are saved.” Matthew 9:17 (NIRV)

If you desire for Him to save the best till last in your life, you have to be ready for Him to transform your life into a new wineskin. That means, laying down your pride and asking Him to change you completely. Revelation 21:5 says, He who was sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down. You can trust these words. They are true”

Transformation is never easy and rarely quick, but it is ALWAYS worth it. Make yourself available to Him, admit your need to be made into a new wineskin and be ready for Him to start working in your life.

Today, I’m asking God for transformation that will bring freedom from regret of missed opportunities, and instead bring freedom and the ability to receive something new!! Join the “wine club” today in asking God to transform our hearts and lives into new wineskins that won’t burst when a fresh goal or calling or relationship is poured into our lives.

As always, I would love to pray for your specific need, please connect!
Leaning into Him,
Christina